Managing a high-voltage (HTA) substation requires a high level of technical and regulatory expertise. According to the PREFAFRANCE reference framework, the HTA technical manager assumes essential obligations to ensure personnel safety, installation compliance and continuity of service within the French legal framework.
Safety and Regulatory Compliance
The technical manager is the guarantor of on-site safety. Their responsibilities include:
- Strict application of standards NF C13-100, NF C13-200, NF C17-300 and NF C18-510, as well as internal company requirements.
- Verifying electrical authorisations of personnel (H2V, B2V, BR, BC) and regularly updating their training.
- Establishing and monitoring consignment and manoeuvre procedures, essential for preventing electrical hazards.
- Continuously monitoring regulatory compliance of HTA equipment and installations.
Preventive and Corrective Maintenance
Maintenance is a central pillar of the PREFAFRANCE reference framework:
- The technical manager must organise and document preventive and corrective maintenance of HTA equipment (transformers, cubicles, protection relays, cables, switchboards, etc.).
- Every intervention must be tracked via a CMMS and recorded in a maintenance register complying with regulatory requirements.
- Periodic checks must be carried out at commissioning and at least once a year.
- The up-to-date maintenance file must be available for any audit or external inspection.
Administrative and Organisational Responsibilities
- Keeping authorisation, training and medical certificates for the teams.
- Analysing and qualifying each type of intervention (live working, consignment, maintenance, troubleshooting, etc.).
- Ensuring collective safety, reporting any incident and implementing prevention plans adapted to industrial sites, in liaison with the network manager.
Legal Framework and Regulatory Obligations
- Labour Code (Articles R.4544-1 to R.4544-11): authorisation, consignment and personnel protection obligations.
- Orders of 17 May 2001 and 9 June 2020: technical requirements for electricity distribution and HTA connection.
- NF C 13-100 and NF C 13-200 Standards: design, operation and maintenance of HTA/LV delivery substations.
- NF C 15-100 Standard: requirements related to the HTA/LV interface.
Legal and Criminal Liabilities
Under Article R.4544-4 of the Labour Code, work must be carried out de-energised unless there is a justified technical impossibility. The technical manager may be held criminally liable for breaches of safety rules, and is designated as the electrical safety officer on site. They must also ensure:
- Continuity of service and maintenance of substation performance.
- Transparency of interventions vis-à-vis the substation owner and competent authorities.
A Mission of Reliability and Performance
In the PREFAFRANCE framework, the role of HTA technical manager is based on a culture of safety, rigour and traceability, aiming to:
- Reduce electrical and industrial risks.
- Ensure durability of equipment.
- Maintain legal and contractual compliance of installations.
In Summary
Managing a high-voltage substation according to the PREFAFRANCE framework relies on strict compliance with NF C standards and the Labour Code, rigorous and documented maintenance, implementation of certified safety measures, and clear accountability towards clients, authorities and the network.
